WHAT WE DO

The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board provides services for people of all ages who have mental illness, substance use disorders, and/or developmental disabilities. The CSB also provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers who have developmental delays.

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CSB News

Affirmation banner promoting mental health, a previous mini-grant awardee project.The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) has awarded mini-grants for 10 projects, all planned and led by young people, which aim to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues among their peers. Each of the projects will be implemented by September 30, 2018.
Funding for the CSB's mini-grant program for youth-led projects is from a regional suicide prevention grant from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
"The purpose of the program is to empower and educate our youth, so that they know how to recognize a mental health concern in themselves or someone else, and won’t hesitate to get help," says Jamie MacDonald, Director of CSB Wellness, Health Promotion, and Prevention Services.
The grants were awarded to:
Asian American LEAD, an organization focused on youth leadership and empowerment, will sponsor a "Stress Less Week" at Poe Middle School. Students will research, develop, and implement stress reduction activities and a “pass it forward” positivity campaign in the weeks leading up to standardized testing.
Faith Chi and Elena-Marie Weissenboeck, students at Oakton High School, are forming a Happy Hearts club to promote stress reduction and educate peers about stigma. They will engage peers from the surrounding area to organize a series of awareness activities.
Community Development and Preservation Corporation will implement a "Walk in Our Shoes" project at its Island Walk Summer Engagement Program. The campaign engages youth in sharing real stories from teens and young adults to teach about mental health challenges and mental wellness.
Falls Church High School’s Our Minds Matter Club will host a "Stress Less Week" during the week between AP exams and finals. Students will lead a variety of activities to encourage students to stress less and focus on their mental health.
Ramya Griddaluri, a student at Carson Middle School, will develop and implement a campaign, via social media and events, to educate peers on evidence-based facts on the relationship between mental illness and gun violence.
Marshall High School’s Student Government Association will be installing a “positive thought board” in the school. Students will be able to put sticky notes on the board to share their thoughts, demonstrating that it is acceptable to think about and articulate your feelings. The SGA will also be placing board games in the school library to promote de-stressing activity.
McLean High School will continue its implementation of Sources of Strength, a best practice youth suicide prevention project designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture. Sources of Strength aims to increase help seeking behaviors and promote connections between peers and caring adults.
Mountain View Alternative Learning Center students will plan and implement a Mental Health Awareness Week. They will emphasize the prevalence of mental illness, brain science, and how to recognize and cope with mental health problems.
She Rocks the World produces the Virginia Girls Summit each fall at George Mason University, and a number of events and meetings year-round, hosted by the group’s 42 teen ambassadors. Events throughout the year will focus on topics related to mental illness and stigma.
Woodson High School’s Our Minds Matter Club will launch a campaign called "See Something, Hear Something, Say Something." The campaign aims to raise awareness and remind all students how critical it is to share any information related to mental health concerns, violence to others, or suicidal thoughts with an adult.
"One in every five people in the U.S. experiences a mental health disorder every year," says MacDonald. "Mental health disorders are common and treatable, but people are often reluctant seek help because of the misunderstanding and stigma they may experience due to their diagnosis."
By providing some resources to youth-led projects, the CSB seeks to inspire young people to be the driving force for a positive culture change to eliminate the stigma around mental illness.

In conjunction with DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative
Take advantage of a free, convenient, confidential, and safe disposal of unused or expired medications during Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Drop off medications at any of the eight Fairfax County District Police Stations (pills or liquids only, no pressurized canisters or needles) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout is a partnership with local businesses in collaboration with the following Fairfax County government departments: Police, Health, Public and Private Partnerships, Neighborhood and Community Services, Public Works and Environmental Services, and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board.
Drug take back programs are important because they are a safe method for disposing of prescription drugs and are organized and closely monitored by local, state, and federal government agencies.
Safe disposal of unused or expired medications prevents drug abuse and misuse, accidental poisoning, and protects the environment. Learn more about the prescription drug take-back programs.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Drop off unused or expired medications at a Fairfax County Police district station
(pills or liquids only, no pressurized canisters or needles)
Disposal is FREE, convenient, confidential, and safe
Safe handling of unused or expired medications:
Prevents accidental poisoning
Protects the environment
Prevents drug abuse
Drop-Off Sites
Fair Oaks District Station
12300 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax, VA 22033
Franconia District Station
6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310
Mason District Station
6507 Columbia Pike , Annandale, VA 22003
McLean District Station
1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101
Mount Vernon District Station
2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306
Reston District Station
12000 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Sully District Station
4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, VA 20151
West Springfield District Station
6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152
Need help with a substance abuse issue?
Call the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board:
Emergency Services (24/7) – 703-573-5679 (TTY 711)
Fairfax Detoxification Center (24/7) – 703-502-7000 (TTY 703-322-9080)
CSB Entry &amp; Referral Services – 703-383-8500
Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies

Are you concerned about unusual experiences or behaviors, either in yourself or someone you’re close to?
Approximately 3 percent of the people in the U.S. (3 out of 100 people) will experience psychosis over the course of their lifetime. The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) has added a new online screening tool to help individuals or their loved ones recognize early psychotic behaviors or episodes. The new screening tool is free, anonymous, easy to understand, and quick.
About 100,000 young adolescents and young adults in the U.S. develop psychosis each year. Often, more than a year passes before getting help. Awareness, early detection and intervention, and treatment are crucial and can make a lifelong difference.
Do you recognize any of these issues?
Withdrawing from family and friends or from things you used to find enjoyable.
Developing unusual thoughts or ideas, such as receiving special messages from the TV, music or internet.
Difficulty thinking or having disorganized thoughts.
Decreased energy or lack of motivation.
Hearing, seeing, feeling or tasting things that other people don’t.
These may be signs of a more serious problem.
If you think someone you know is experiencing psychosis, encourage treatment as early as possible. Psychosis can be treated effectively, and early intervention increases the chance of a successful outcome. CSB’s Turning Point program provides early psychosis intervention where a combination of services are coordinated by a group of professionals working collaboratively with the individual and the family. Turning Point is a partnership between the CSB and PRS; there is a fee for services, based on a sliding scale. Learn more about Turning Point, the CSB’s early intervention program.
With early intervention and appropriate treatment, recovery is possible. Early intervention can decrease relapses and prevent much of the disability associated with psychosis.
The online screenings are available in English and Spanish. The tool covers a total of nine mental health issues, including the psychosis screenings; they include depression, anxiety disorder, adolescent depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol use disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorder, and substance use disorder.
Online screenings are not a substitute for clinical diagnosis or treatment, but they can be helpful in determining if thoughts or behaviors may be associated with a common, treatable mental health issue.
For more information about services, contact the CSB at 703-383-8500 (M-F, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., extended hours for youth until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays). In an emergency (24/7), call CSB Emergency Services at 703-573-5679 or the Fairfax Detoxification Center at 703-502-7000, TTY 703-322-9080.

In a jam-packed room, educators, parents, social workers, therapists and county leaders came together for an important conversation about youth anxiety across our community.
Together, around 100 attendees collaborated on ways to better identify anxiety in young people, strengthen teen resiliency and coping skills, and raise awareness of supportive opportunities and interventions.
The annual community forum was held March 5 at the FCPS Virginia Hills Center, presented by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) and the Advisory Board for the Joe and Fredona Gartlan Center in Mount Vernon.
Dr. Scott Brabrand, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Scott Brabrand, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), offered warm welcoming remarks and issued a challenge to the crowd. “We need to create environments where we offer permission to kids – and each other – to take our foot off of the accelerator; it’s ok to go the speed limit. Slow down. Perfection is not the goal here, doing your best is the goal.” He cited youth survey statistics that showed positive signs with reductions in bullying and use of alcohol and tobacco. He also acknowledged that many children and teens feel great stress and that while we’re doing well academically, we have much more work to do to meet the socioemotional needs of our children. “How do we work collaboratively to find children who are not involved in extracurricular activities? We must challenge ourselves to find these kids and work to connect them to activities.” We need to slow down, listen, and remember that stress and anxiety don’t just happen to 'some kid;' they happen to all of our kids.”
Keynote speaker Dr. Erin Berman, a psychologist with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offered insights about identifying anxiety in children, the science of anxiety, and practical coping strategies.
She shared some red flags that can help identify youth anxiety:
Avoidance of school, school work, activities.
Sleep disturbances.
Distress at home.
Persistent (more than a couple of months) worry over large catastrophic events.
May appear perfectionistic.
Stomach/headaches.
Oppositional behavior (not trying).
Dr. Erin Berman, National Institute of Mental Health “One in four of us will experience anxiety. I urge all of us to embrace anxiety and to acknowledge that we will never succeed in completely erasing it from our lives. By learning about it, we work together to 'call it out' and look at ways to cope together. We strengthen our children when we equip them with coping skills. I urge parents to tell their children when they feel (or have felt) anxious or scared – these small personal disclosures can go a long way toward normalizing anxious feelings and helping open the door to conversation. Kids won’t feel so alone in their fears; parents can be a calming influence. Providing empathy, support and acceptance helps children cope.”
View Dr. Berman's full presentation.
Following Dr. Berman, a panel of local experts examined a look at teen gang participation through a trauma-informed lens. Ed Ryan, Director of the Fairfax County Gang Prevention, said “We need to keep an eye out for those kids that have a tough time making friends and may be more vulnerable to being exploited by gang members. We’re looking at younger children; age 12 or 13 is the average age gang recruiters target. Connecting kids to positive activities to prevent drifting to the negative influences is critical and it takes a strong collaborative effort.”
Meredith McKeen, with Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), works with recently immigrated youth. “Many of these kids have experienced serious trauma, they feel in fear for their lives, they may have spent years apart from parents or family members and it can be very hard to reunite. We work to help provide positive supports and try to help young people see a positive future for themselves.” Kate Reen, also from NVFS, discussed her work to help provide skills to children and families they see. “We have a vision of long term recovery. We work to meet the needs of individuals and families, from anger management and communications skills to how to make informed decisions and access resources. We are there to partner and help immigrants navigate stressful circumstances.”
A second panel, facilitated by Daryl Washington, acting Executive Director of the CSB, addressed how to help create communities of hope, healing and resilience.
Panelists included: Allison Lowry, Department of Family Services, Ashley Alexander, CSB, Maria Genova, FCPS psychologist, Kerri Hudgins, FCPS social worker, and Claudia Thomas, FCPS Family Engagement Specialist. Among the remarks, Ms. Thomas highlighted shared that some parents who are reunited with their children after long periods of time feel sad that their child does not show affection toward them and may not understand why. FCPS programs “Parent Project” and “Kids That Hope” are available through the schools to help. Lowry added that DFS offers programs in multiple languages as well. Neighborhood Networks, adolescent classes that cover bonding and attachment issues, and a mentoring program are all available to help. Panelists unanimously shared that parents of recent newcomers are typically very resourceful, interested in their children’s success, are flexible and adaptable and want more for their children than they had growing up.
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Learn more information on FCPS’ student safety and wellness efforts.
Subscribe to FCPS’ Healthy Minds blog.
Learn more about pediatric mood and anxiety research from the National Institute of Mental Health
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Follow the CSB, the agency that helps link people who have mental illness, substance use disorders and/or developmental disabilities to local resources and services, on social media: Facebook and Twitter.

In a room overflowing with parents, service providers, advocates and Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board developmental disabilities services staff, an exciting new collaborative was born this week: the Welcoming Inclusion Network (WIN).
Together, WIN stakeholders will work to advance employment and day services for individuals with developmental (and intellectual) disabilities. As our disability population has grown, both in size and differing interests and support needs, the county recognizes the challenges in building equity and efficiency within available resources. The CSB recognizes the need, and the community’s desire, for more dialogue and participation from stakeholders and the broader community. In a search for solutions that will help meet the needs for inclusion, accessibility and community support, the WIN was launched on February 26.
Braddock District Supervisor and Chair of the WIN steering committee, John Cook, offered an enthusiastic welcome and introduction. Following a brief WIN overview presentation, an inspirational presentation by Ellen Graham of Cameron’s Coffee &amp; Chocolates, there was a detailed discussion of some of the potential themes that will be addressed by the WIN collaborative. Many in the room shared feedback and offered ideas that would help raise awareness to issues surrounding inclusion and individuals with disabilities:
Use terms “individualized” and “person-centered” when speaking about employment and day activity programs.
Create a glossary of terms and definitions.
Look for mentor opportunities and increased business partnerships.
Show what success looks like.
Create a resource bank for care needs.
Ask businesses: What’s YOUR inclusion plan?
The WIN launch this week highlights March as Developmental Disabilities Inclusion Awareness Month. The goal of the month is to create awareness about developmental disabilities, teach the importance of inclusion within every aspect of life, and to share the stories of individuals with a disability to show that a successful life is possible.
Throughout the month of March, reflect on your business, your community, and your own life. How are you making the world more accessible and more inclusive? How are you celebrating community?
All are welcome to attend the next WIN meeting, Monday, March 26, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center.
Questions? Contact Jean Hartman, CSB Assistant Deputy Director of Community Living Treatment &amp; Supports, 703-324-4460.

About the Health & Human Services System

This is agency is a part of the Fairfax County Health & Human Services System (HHS). The HHS System is a network of county agencies and community partners that support the well-being of all who live, work, and play in Fairfax County.